The President’s House, the official residence of the Prime Minister (Temple Trees), the President’s Office and the Prime Minister’s Office will be shifted to the Sri Jayawardenapura area, Urban Development Authority Chairman Nimesh Herath said. He said that this programme is being implemented on the instructions of President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Minister Urban Development Prasanna Ranatunga.
The Chairman said that the matters such as whether the area is suitable for it, and on what security measures are needed is being looked into these days. Among these, the Prime Minister’s House (Temple Trees) will also be re-located to an area near the Parliament, he said.
The Chairman further commented that it is the idea of the President to create a heritage square using the old buildings in Colombo such as the General Post Office, GOH, Foreign Affairs Ministry, the President’s House and the Presidential Secretariat.
Chairman Herath also said that the Battaramulla, Kotte area has been identified as the main area to be used for administrative purposes and also mentioned that a plan has been prepared to move more government offices to that area in the future.
Herath further said that the President has already given instructions to begin these activities and many rounds of negotiations have been conducted so far. He also said that investors are coming for valuable economic locations in the Colombo city.